CAA/WTS/CPT/Flight Schools - Reference Thread

[COOKIEMAN]

Very intesting update along with some fantastic items as well! Did BFS had graduation books as well? I ask becuase it is always a treat to see period photos.

 

BTW Welcome to the forum I know you bring a wealth of information to the table.

 

Regards,

John

 

 

HI JOHN, Thanks for the welcome, for some reason had a terrible time getting accepted to play on the forum. Hopefully I can add some well reasoned thoughts to the fray.

 

To answer your question, have never seen a class book from one of the CPTP / WTS classes. I think there are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, the course duration was fairly short, compared to the military schools. Secondly, most of the classes were split between two entities. Usually academics were taught by an educational institution, while the flying portion was conducted by one of the civilian flying services / schools.

 

Have read through all the posts on this subject, plan on adding some comments and quite a few pictures when I get th chance. With what I have seen so far, looks like Russ and I are about 90% common in our collections.

[John Cooper]

HI JOHN, Thanks for the welcome, for some reason had a terrible time getting accepted to play on the forum. Hopefully I can add some well reasoned thoughts to the fray.

 

To answer your question, have never seen a class book from one of the CPTP / WTS classes. I think there are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly, the course duration was fairly short, compared to the military schools. Secondly, most of the classes were split between two entities. Usually academics were taught by an educational institution, while the flying portion was conducted by one of the civilian flying services / schools.

 

Have read through all the posts on this subject, plan on adding some comments and quite a few pictures when I get th chance. With what I have seen so far, looks like Russ and I are about 90% common in our collections.

 

 

Well if you have any more issues now that your here let me know. As for the commonality between your collection and that of Russ's don't let that stop you from posting

 

John

[rustywings]

REF POST #111 - Darr Aero Tech Pilot Wing - RUSS, positive this particulary wing is a Post-WW2 Wing from one of the nine USAF Contract Flying Schools in the 1950's. Notice the design is the same as your Bainbridge Wing. Several of these USAF CFS's used the same design wing.

 

The 3306th Pilot Training Squadron (Contract Primary) was activated at Marana Air Base, Marana, Arizona on 1 September 1951. On 27 June 1952 the unit was redsignated 3306th Pilot Training Squadron (Contract Primary). The school was once again redesinated on 25 April 1955 as the 3306th Pilot Training Group (Contract Primary). The school was inactivated on 2 September 1957. Anyway you look at, a scarce wing.

 

 

Hello John (Cookieman) and welcome to the Forum. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge and collection with us. Having you on board will be a real asset to this thread. Man, that War Eagle Field - Squadron 14 patch is sure a rare patch! I've looked for twenty years and have never seen another. And your Buck Flying Service cloth instructor wings with matching collar insignia is absolutely top-shelf stuff! As John Cooper mentioned, please post away!

Blue skies,

Russ

[COOKIEMAN]

66th AAF FLYING TRAINING DETACHMENT (CONTRACT FLYING SCHOOL)

2164th AAF BASE UNIT (CONTRACT PILOT SCHOOL, BASIC)

DIVISION of AERONAUTICS, TUSKEGEE INSTITUTE

KENNEDY FIELD, TUSKEGEE, ALABAMA

 

One of the roughest contract flying school patches to find, and very expensive when one does turn up. From data I have found, period of operation was 19 July 1941 - 31 December 1945

[COOKIEMAN]

CIVILIAN FLIGHT INSTURCTOR (Cap or Collar Device)

Unattributed to a specific AAF Unit / School or Location

 

Some civilian, non-militaria collector on eBay sure lucked out last week. They posted an item on eBay I had been looking for since 1997. It is the interesting Civilian Flight Instructor insignia depicted below. Being scrw back, I am not sure it it is a cap insigina or a collar device. Either way it is an interesting item.

 

Back to the eBay story. The bidding was very aggressive, and I thought I had it bagged, until out bid at the final moments of the auction. Oh, well, maybe next time. Then the next day, received a "second Chance" offer from the vendor and immediately purchased it. See the result in the attached picture.

 

The rest of the story follows in my next posting

[benguttery]

I collect class books from the Texas flying fields. Most of my collection has been posted on

 

www.aafcollection.info

 

You can look at the books there to see many of these insignia. You will also see P.T. Pete from Stamford and the Gremlins from Hicks Field.

[COOKIEMAN]

CIVILIAN FLIGHT INSTURCTOR (Wings)

Unattributed to a specific AAF Unit / School or Location

 

Now for the rest of the story. I purchased the wings depicted below back in 1997 at a small show in Kansas City. Since that time I have been looking for the matching collar device / cap insignia. You can imagine my joy when finally uniting the two pieces.

 

Some thought on the date of the wing. The US Aircraft marking in the center of the insignia was adopted in May 1942. The insturctor wings (withouht center insignia) was promulgate in C-14 to Army Regulation 600-35, on 6 March 1943.

 

If anybody has any thoughts or ideas as to which unit / school / organization used these insignia, I would be appreciative.

[rustywings]

John, these items you're posting are terrific additions! I doubt most advanced patch collectors have ever seen a Tuskegee Contract Flight Instructor patch. Thanks for the treat.

 

Regarding your silver and enamel Civilian Flight Instructor pin, it looks a little small to be worn on any cap other than an overseas style cap. The screw-back attachment sure makes for a strong argument that it was designed specific for that purpose. A very unique insignia!

 

Russ

[John Cooper]

I just had to chime in here those wing in post #360 and SWEET! (edit) Hold the phone I just remembered Patrick Frost has a similar wing... here is the reposted photo. (I hope patrick does no mind)

 

 

Here is another thread about the cadet type wings.

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...ic=60289&hl=

 

Cheers!

John

[LuftStalg1]

Lamp of Knowledge wing.

 

Here is another set of photos of one of my old oddball wings. I have not seen another like it. It is die-struck two piece wing with the lamp being applied to the typical three inch instructor’s wing. It is only marked “Sterling”. I sold this one a few years back.

 

Mark

[LuftStalg1]

Victory Field Wing, Tie clip, Front

 

Here is another oldie from my collection. It has great detail and is identical to the standard wing but has a tie clip on the back. It is not a modified wing but also made and marked by “Hickok” and “USA”.

 

Mark

[LuftStalg1]

Victory Field Wing, Tie clip, Reverse

[LuftStalg1]

Victory Field Wing, Tie clip, Top.

[LuftStalg1]

Victory Field Wing, Tie clip, Bottom.

[John Cooper]

Interesting additions!

 

Cheers

John

[rustywings]

I bought a scrap book today full of WWII era documents and personal notes from a Civilian Flight Instructor employed at the 4th AAF Flight Training Detachment - Rankin Aero Academy. Included in the lot was a stack of reports documenting numerous crashes and mishaps with the Flying Cadets. Attached with each crash report were several photographs depicting the damage to each respective plane. I was surprised to see a majority of the accidents were caused by cadets simply applying the brakes too hard in their PT-17's. I thought some of you might be interested in a few of these reports and the corresponding photos.

 

Russ

[rustywings]

Here's the Civilian Flight Instructor's statement, followed by photos of the damage.

[rustywings]

Photo...

[rustywings]

Damage list.

[rustywings]

Additional photo.

[rustywings]

Additional photo.

[rustywings]

Another accident report.

[rustywings]

Photo.

[rustywings]

Damage report.

[rustywings]

Another photo.